Safety & Supply

The safety and supply of treatment products is a priority for the bleeding disorders community.

Many people in our community, and their families have been deeply affected by HIV and/or hepatitis C which was transmitted through plasma derived treatment products in the past.
HFA works with stakeholders to ensure sufficient supplies of safe treatment products for Australians with bleeding disorders.

HFA supports access to a range of treatment products for haemophilia, von Willebrand disorder and other rare inherited bleeding disorders so that patients and their treating clinicians can select the most suitable treatment option for their condition.

HFA keeps a watching brief on new and emerging products and encourages discussion about future care and treatments.

For information about specific treatment products contact your haemophilia specialist at your Haemophilia Treatment Centre or if you require further information about the treatment product you have been prescribed, see the consumer medicine information supplied with your product or contact the product manufacturer or sponsor.

Date last reviewed: 23 February 2017

variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

UPDATE (FEB 2009)

Health authorities in the United Kingdom recently announced that a man with haemophilia A who died from unrelated causes was found to have evidence of infection with the agent which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), the human form of "mad cow disease".

Abnormal prion proteins (the infectious agent causing vCJD) were detected in the spleen during a post mortem, which had been undertaken as part of a UK surveillance study. This is the first time that a person with haemophilia has been found to have any evidence of vCJD infection, although there has been concern that this may occur.

The patient concerned had been treated with UK-produced clotting factor concentrate, which was later identified as having been made from plasma from a donor who developed vCJD after making the donation. Health authorities in the UK have identified this exposure to clotting factor as the most likely source of prion transmission to this patient.

It is important to note this is not the only possible source and the man had other potential risk factors. Whilst there was evidence of abnormal prion proteins, the man did not have vCJD and his death occurred due to unrelated causes. The follow-up investigations are not yet complete.

Although it can never be stated that there is a zero risk of transmission of infectious diseases by clotting factor concentrates, amongst people with haemophilia, it is those who were exposed to concentrates manufactured with UK-sourced plasma between 1980 - 2001 who are thought to be at increased risk of vCJD. Although this risk was considered theoretical and likely to be small, a number of precautions to reduce the risk were put in place and continue to apply.

Firstly from 1998, no UK-sourced plasma has been used in the manufacture of plasma products worldwide. Secondly, blood donors in Australia cannot donate blood to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service if they have resided in the UK between 1980 - 1996 for a total (cumulative) time of six months or more, or have received blood transfusions in the UK since 1 January 1980.

In Australia, recombinant treatment products which are manufactured with little or no human or animal material are used widely by people with haemophilia for their treatment in preference to plasma derived clotting factors. Nevertheless, some people with bleeding disorders still need to use plasma derivatives or choose to do so. Regulators require a number of steps to be taken in plasma derived products registered for use in Australia which result in these products being considered to be of minimal risk of vCJD. This includes donor deferral policies to exclude potentially at risk plasma, and processes and methods to reduce the risk of prions.

HFA is working with the Australian health authorities, Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors' Organisation and other organisations to keep aware of the UK situation and will provide further ongoing information to the bleeding disorders community.

People who are concerned about the implications of this information for their own health are encouraged to speak with their haemophilia doctor.

Further information about the UK situation is available from the following web sites:

HFA does not give medical advice. This material is provided for general information only. Patients should refer to their treating doctor or haemophilia treatment centre for medical advice and/or advice about the treatment products they use. For contact details of haemophilia treatment centres go to Treatment Services.

Date last reviewed: 4th June 2009

23 February 2017 - Roche clinical trial update

You may be aware that Roche is currently conducting a clinical trial of the medication emicizumab (ACE 910), which is an investigational molecule that mimics the function of factor VIII.

HFA was saddened to learn of the recent death of a haemophilia A patient who had been participating in the trial. Roche has advised HFA that the death has been reported and assessed as unrelated to the drug emicizumab.

HFA understands that Roche will provide further information to doctors who are involved in the trial when it becomes available.

People with haemophilia who are participating in the clinical trial are encouraged to speak to their doctor at their local Haemophilia Treatment Centre if they have questions.

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9 March 2012 - CSL Biostate safety

CSL Biotherapies notified the TGA on 7 March 2012 that some batches of human albumin solutions manufactured by CSL in Australia prior to 25 January 2012 have been contaminated with ethylene glycol as a consequence of an equipment failure.

As a result the Therapeutic Goods Administration took steps to quarantine all batches of albumin in hospitals around Australia until further tests were conducted to ensure the safety of the product.

As human albumin is also used in the manufacture of plasma derived factor VIII, Biostate, people with haemophilia A who use this product may be concerned. However, the TGA has issued an advice today that the small amounts of ethylene glycol in Biostate are unlikely to pose a health risk. If anyone who uses Biostate remains concerned they should contact their doctor for further information.